The 2022 Heavies Awards - Event of the Year Winner: UFC 281: Adesanya vs Pereira

[Hollywood Jack]

Event of the Year

Alright, it's that time of year again, boys (and girls)! 2022 was a bounce back year for live events with full crowds. We had 13 numbered UFC events in 2022, from UFC 270 headlined by Francis Ngannou vs. Cyril Gane for the Heavyweight Title to UFC 282 with Jan Blachowicz facing off against Magomed Ankalaev for the vacant Light Heavyweight Belt. And besides the UFC events, we also had standout events from organizations like ONE Championship, most notably their ONE: X event in March.

Please let us know what event was your favorite of 2022 and why. If your favorite event isn't in the poll, then vote for the "other" option and specify why in the thread, if you have the time. Alright, let's get to the events!

UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira:

UFC 281 was headlined by the third fight, first in MMA, between champion Israel Adesanya and challenger Alex Pereira. And the fight certainly delivered, although it was the barn burner between Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler that won Fight of the Night.

UFC 281 gifs:

Spoiler

UFC 275: Teixeira vs. Procházka:

UFC 275 was headlined by Glover Teixeira and Jiri Procházka in a grueling back and forth battle that ended up being a Fight of the Year candidate. Not surprisingly, it won Fight of the Night while Zhang Weili won a Performance of the Night bonus for her brutal spinning backfist KO over former champ Joanna Jędrzejczyk.

UFC 275 gifs:

Spoiler

UFC 282: Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev:

The main event title fight for the vacant Light Heavyweight Championship inexplicably ended in a draw, but the fight itself was action packed and topped off a night of fights full of highlight reel finishes with six (T)KO and four submission wins.

UFC 282 gifs:

Spoiler

ONE: X:

Intended as a celebration of ONE's 10-year anniversary as a fight promotion, this 20-fight event featured Angela Lee and Demetrious Johnson defending their respective Women's Atomweight and Flyweight Titles. This event had 10 finishes, including 7 via form of KO and 3 by submission.

Thanks for voting! Thanks for participating! Here's to another great year of MMA...

 

[runjay]

Volkov Aspinall

London card

Free

 

[Axe720]

281 for me. Even the prelims were great, and the 5th round finish in the PPV main event was like a movie ending.

 

[Raptors2019]

281 by a mile. Thought you were trolling with UFC 282.

 

[Hollywood Jack]

281 by a mile. Thought you were trolling with UFC 282.

281 was definitely the best event IMO. But we wanted to give people options. 282 was great overall despite the title fight ending in a draw.

 

[BoxerMaurits]

Top to bottom UFC Austin and UFC London 1 were insane

 

[You Will Vote For Dreyga]

THE CORRECT ANSWER IS UFC LONDON!!!!!!!




Absolutely insane that it wasn't on the poll!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hollywood Jack]

THE CORRECT ANSWER IS UFC LONDON!!!!!!!

View attachment 961577


Absolutely insane that it wasn't on the poll!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just to provide you with some context, I'm using this excellent article by @JayPettryMMA as a guide for poll options:

https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Sherdogs-2022-Event-of-the-Year-188806

I'm also allowing fans a chance to select "other" and explain why in the thread. Which you did. Duly noted.

 

[drbolony]

UFC 281, nothing original here. Main card was just banger after banger, after banger. Plus finishes to cap off some nice fights. Finishes mean nothing to me if the fights weren't good.

If 282 is up there though, I'm not sure how 280 isn't up there. Coronation of Islam, karma for Dillasnake, the Sugar Shins scandal, Belal making you remember his name, Mokaev working out of some adversity. Fun card, second highest quality ppv behind 281 imo.

 

[oldschoolmmafan]

Personally, UFC 276.

 

[Hollywood Jack]

Personally, UFC 276.

It certainly had its moments. Pereira taking Strickland out like a sniper was the highlight for me (and a lot of other people, I'm sure).

 

[BangBang]

281. I was buzzing the whole event. Kick ass night of fighting.

 

[Fahcough]

I don't remember any of them collectively. Couldn't name 2 fights on a card. Tell me where to vote.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

The way Style Bender was sent to Shadow Realm by far makes that event the Best Event of the Year...

 

[Gio]

UFC 281 for me. Definitely delivered.

Great job on the thread, Jackie

 

[Bobby Boulders]

I'm voting for the RIZIN undercard from last week. Enough violence to bring a tear to an Axe Murderer's eye.

Also, was tripped out about TS. Was like, "This person looks familiar, but who the fuck is Hollywood Jack?" The answer was in the color blue.

 

[Hollywood Jack]

UFC 281 for me. Definitely delivered.

Great job on the thread, Jackie

Thanks, Gio. You certainly helped me out behind the scenes. Glad I could do a decent job with it.

 

[PurpleStorm]

281 for me. Alex Pereira KOd Izzy. Zhang Weili subbed Esparza for the title. Poirier and Chandler gave us a great fight.

Honorable mention. One X. That Lee vs. Stamp Fairtex fight was a doozy.

 

[StonedLemur]

I picked Pereira vs Adesanya, but the first London card was a monster of a card sir.

 

[StonedLemur]

I'm voting for the RIZIN undercard from last week. Enough violence to bring a tear to an Axe Murderer's eye.

Also, was tripped out about TS. Was like, "This person looks familiar, but who the fuck is Hollywood Jack?" The answer was in the color blue.

He's been a blue bird for months now sir lol.